Bill-file



(No Model.)

M. L. B. SEAMAN.

BILL FILE. No. 420,468. Patented Feb. 4, 1890.

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PATENT Tries.

MILTON L. B. SEAMAN, OF KRUM, TEXAS.

BILL-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,468, dated February 4, 1890.

Application filed September 10, 1889. Serial No. 323,541. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, MILTON L. B. SEAMAN, of Krum, Denton county, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bill-Files, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of files for paperssuch as bills and lettersconsisting of a loop for holding the papers, which-*is attached to a support adapted to hold it in posit-ion and my object is to provideacheap and simple file, upon which the papers may be strung and from whichthey may be removed with the least amount of trouble, and which is adapted to be locked to securely retain the papers thereon in such manner that they are readily accessible for inspection. To this end I provide, as hereinafter fully set forth, a wire loop having ends adapted to lap, fit snugly, and lock the one upon the other, and which may be opened for the ready reception and removal of papers, said loop being fitted to turn or swivel about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the loop-wire to facilitate the inspection of the papers.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side View thereof, partly in longitudinal section, showing the wire loop locked; and Fig. 3 isaview of a portion of the loop shown as unlocked.

The loop A of spring-wire is preferably approximately elliptical in shape, with the paper-piercing end (0 adapted to overlap and to underlie and interlock with the end 19. The end I) is straight on its inner side and is provided with a slight shoulder Z), against which the end a. abuts when the loop is locked, and curves or tapers toward its extremity on its outer side. The piercing end a is straight on its outer side and tapering on its inner side, and when freed from theshouldered end I) it springs outward and its curved or tapered face lightly bears or rests upon the curved or tapered face of the end I), as shown in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines, Fig. 2. When in this position, papers may be pierced by the pointed end a and drawn down upon the wire, or papers already on file may readily be removed by simply pulling them off the wire. The papers easily pass between the overlapping ends when unlocked, the papers being guided to and from the loop by way of the spaces provided by the curved or inclined points of the wire. By pressing the piercing end a. i11- ward and under the end I) the shoulder b of the latter, which shoulder springs a little forward or toward the end a when the device is unlocked, is pressed against the extremity of the loop end a, and by reason of this endwise pressure against the end a and the lateral or outward pressure of end a against the end I) the loop is locked with sufficient firmness. This locking-connection renders the loop continuous with an unobstructed joint, and papers may be passed from one end of the loop to the other over the interlocking ends without hinderance or possibility of slipping off the loop.

The loop'A is attached to a support B by swiveling-connection at C, so that the loop may be turned or swiveled about an axis transverse thereto and relatively to the support, in order that the papers on the file may be turned in any required direction, whereby they are more readily accessible for inspection without removing the file from its position on the wall or wherever it may be placed. The loop may be connected to the support in any suitable way--for instance, as illustrated in the drawings, wherein the loop is shown as fastened to a plate or block D, which is socured to the support or base plate B by a pivot, screw, or rivet O, constituting an axis at a right angle or transverse to the longitudinal axis of theloop-wire, and about which the plate D and loop A turn or swivel.

The plate D may be dispensed with, if desired, and the loop connected directly to the transverse pivot C, which, in this .instance,

would turn in the support B.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of the file-loop and the support to which it is pivotally connected to turn about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the loop-Wire, whereby the on its innerside and straight on its outer side,

loop may be swiveled to turn the papers, as as and for the purpose set forth. 10 and for the purpose set forth. In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 2. The spring-file loop, having elosely-fitscribed my name. 5 ting lapping ends, either of which may be MILTON L. B. SEAMAN.

adjusted to overlap the other, the one being Witnesses: straight 011 its inner side and tapering on its LEWIS L. FINLEY, out-er side and the other end being tapering RICHARD R. TURNER. 

